AIPAC vs. AOC & The Squad: Pro-Israel Lobby Group to Spend $100M to Target Progressive Lawmakers

As we begin a pivotal election year in the United States, we look at the powerful U.S. lobby group AIPAC, which is set to spend more than $100 million to defeat progressives who are critical of Israeli human rights violations in Palestine. That includes Michigan's Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress. AIPAC's outsize influence in national campaigns comes with "an implicit threat," says The Intercept's Ryan Grim, whose new book, _The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution_, was published last month. "That money will still be spent, but it will be spent against you instead," he says about politicians who dare to turn down the pro-Israel lobby's deep pockets. "That really, to a shocking degree, constrained what Democratic candidates were willing to say when it came to criticizing Israel."

[sweetaznspice]

It's just utterly disgusting and despicable how a lobby group registered as a foreign agent can shape the outcome of both the domestic and foreign policies of America.

[bigdogpc]

It can't be a democracy if politicians can be bought

[arturturk]

AIPAC needs to go, we have enough political problems.

[ahmed]

Aipac needs too stay out of US politics

[kevinskiles]

When a politician can't criticize another country for wrongdoing, then our political system is broken.

[Hoppenoffer]

It is clear… PRIVATE money is destroying democracy. We need publicly, funded elections. Each candidate receives exactly the same amount of money. May the best person win.

[deeznutz]

This is why their focus is "ISRAEL FIRST" instead of "AMERICA FIRST!"

[Berley_]

KEEP foreign freaking money out of our government

[ProgressiveTruthSeekers]

"It's now simply deceitful to deny the power of the Israel lobby. Obama aide Ben Rhodes has recalled how members of Congress complained about AIPAC threats to shut down their fundraisers if they didn't vote right on legislation affecting Israeli interests."

~Gareth Porter, Investigative historian and journalist on the national security state

[AbroCI]

Candidates should now be asked if they are AIPAC sponsored Candidates. This will tell us who they are going there to support or represent.

[bkgnwle]

Another reason not to give Israel a penny.

[SpeakTruthFirst]

Thank you democracy now and Brian for bringing attention to this matter. We pretend to live in a democracy but really there is so much back door white collar corruption in our govt

[sonianercam]

Thank you so much for showing us the truth and making the people more aware.

[Rhythmicons]

It's sad that so many billions of dollars is wasted on politics when it could serve society in so many more productive ways.

[vivavasquez]

vote every politician that takes AIPAC money out of office !

[marisadallavalle]

Until we take money out of politics this country is doomed.

[davidkelly]

P.s The existence of this lobby was thought to have an important influence in the decision to attack IRAQ, which resulted in the devastating destabilisation in the whole Middle East region to this day!

[zer]

Kick Aipac out! No more US tax payer money going to Israel!

[TwonGwenoAgerr]

How can USA claim sovereignty if the Senate and The Congress is subservient to FOREIGN INTERESTS?

[pokdell]

To make a bribery legal. Just call it lobby. Now i get it .